Vibration indicator



Feb. 19, 1929. 1,702,455

w. E. TRUMPLER VIBRATION INDICATOR Filed June 27, 1925 WITNESSES: INVENTOR I ATLIORNEY curately determining the. vibration of ma Patented Feb. 19, 1929.

UNITED STA WILLIAM E. TRiIMPL'ER; on wrnxlnsnun fl PEmvsYLvAnIA, ssIGnoR. T WESTING- rss- PATENT nousn nLEo'rnIo aivrANUFno'rUn-rne coMPANY, ACORPORATION or rnnnsvn- "VANIA.

VIBRATION INDICATOR.

Application filed'J'une 27, 1925., Seria1 No.'39,996.. j i

My invention relates to indicators and particularly tovibration indicators for acchine parts sujch as the rotors of dynamo electric machines. i V Q 7 y One object of iny invention is to provide a precision instrument, of the character designated, that shall be so entirely free from frictionally engaging and rolling surfaces,

as to be more accurately and directlyresponsive to mechanical movements.

Anotherobject of myinvention is to provide a vibration indicatorthat shall be free from clearances, delicate, adjustments and Wear. j n 1 Another object-of my invention is to pro- ,vide a vibration indicator in which the flexibility of aflsuspended system is in such re lation to the masses of the moving parts n small forces to that the frequency of vibration of the system is close to the frequency of the vibrat-ions measured, thereby requiring relatively actuate the indicator mechanism.

Another object of my invention is to so flexiblysupport or suspend the moving par'tsofa precision instrument "asto eliminate frictionan d other retarding forcesandv to, prevent movement of the parts in :.unde sired directions as a result of the flexible suspension. e

A further object of my. invention is to provide a vibrationindicator that shall. be neat and compact in construction readily portable and adapted for application service, and capable of withstanding rough usage. I t r i' 7 With such ob ects in view, as well as otheradvantag'es whlchimay be incident to the utilization otfthe improvemenn t-he inv vention-consists in 'the parts and combinations thereof hereinafter .set,= for th and f l claimed, With thei understanding that the several necessary element's constituting the same may be varied. in proportionand a1 from the narangement ithout departing ture and scope otthe lnvention.

My 7 copending appl catiom;

a machine 7 for measuring the dynamic. un-

Serial" No.

balance of the rotors of dynamo-electric machines,- to which reference may be had for a more full and completeunderstanding oiione specific application for which my present invention; is adapted.

In any precision lnstrument employingmechanically movable parts, the presenceof I irictionally engaging surfaces and other r'e- In connection with balancing machines, as set forth inthe above-mentioned copend-- ing applicatiom it-{is of great importance that the frictional resistances in the indicator be minimized. As most balancing machines operate on the resonance principle, the amplitude of vibration'is a large multi- 'ple of the actual eccentricityof the rotating elements. The: small forces also have to a e-i tuatethe indicator which, in a certain way, may beconsidered as a part of'thewbrating system of the balancing machine. Since V the indicator is "used for amplifying the motions: to make them visible, any frictional brating system, reduce the amplitude of the vibrations of the Whole system and increase the range of unbalance within which there is no response at all. TWhile every effort is expanded to reduce frictional resistances in the vibratingv system of the balancing machine, it i'seven more important on the part of the indicator where. themotions are greatly-increasedt i It is my aim to provide an instrument.

I Accordingly," in practicing 1 my invention,

able parts are flexibly or yieldablysuspendeds andconnected;independently of fric-l v V resistance Wlll produce a damping to the Vl-" I provide an instrument in which the movdirections and that are also so constructed and related as to render the device extremely sensitive, accurate and durable.

In order to make the invention more clearly understood means are shown in the ac companying drawings for carrying the same into practical effect without limiting the improvements in these useful applications to the particular constructions which, for the purpose of explanation, are made the subject of illustration.

Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings is a plan view, partially in section and partially in elevation, of a vibration indicator constructed in accordance with my invention, and

Fig. 2 is a view of the device shown in Fig. 1 taken along line II II thereof.

The device comprises, in general, a casing l. a movable-part supporting structure 2 therein, an indicating element or structure 3 and an actuating structure l for the indieating element 3.

The casing structure 1 preferably comirises a cylindrical sheet metal side wall member (5 having upper and lower flanges 7 and 8, respectively, and a side aperture 9 for a purpose to be hereinafter set forth. A bottom wall member 10 is provided with an upturned side flange 11, that telescopically tits in the lower flange 8 of the side wall member 6 and is secured thereto as by screws 12. A transparent cover plate 14 is held against the upper flange 7 as by a re aining collar member 15.

The movablepart supporting structure 2, preferably comprises a supporting block or disk 17 of material that is provided with a cylindrical recess 18 and is suitably secured to the bottom wallmember 10 as by screws 19.

The indicating elementor structure 3 comprises a member 21 of substantially ring shape having an upper flange that is secured to the block'lT, as by screws 22, and a depending flange 23 disposed in the recess 18' in the insulating supporting block 17. The flange 23 is provided with a plurality of relatively narrow radial slots 2% in its mule-rside that are adapted to receive the outer ends of a plurality of flexible elements The elements 25 are preferably co11- structcd of relatively thin resilient sheet metal to be of substantially L-shape having the outer ends of their lower or horizontal arms snugly or rigidly fitted in the slots 24 and the vertical arms thereof disposed in substantially parallel relation to each other about a central axis. This axis constitutes the pivotal axis of a relatively short shaft or pin 27 that is secured to the arms 25, as by a drumor bushing 28, and carries a pointer 29 for cooperation with a scale plate 30 secured to the side wall member 6. The bushing 28 is provided with vertical radial slots 31 for the reception of the upper ends of the arms 25.

The actuating element 4 comprises a bracket 3&- that is secured as by screws 3:3 to a pair of standards 36 that are mounted on the insulating supporting block 17. The pointer 29 is secured to the pin 27, as by a set screw 32. The bracket 3% is preferably of sheet or strap metal construction having an intermediate portion bridged between the standards and having diagonally rclated upturned end flanges 37. Resilient sheet metal or leaf springmembers 39 which are secured to the flanges 37, as by plates 40 and screws ll, project away from the flanges 37 along diagonally related lines toward a point of intersection adjacent to which a pivotally movable actuating arm 4-2 is secured as by rivets 43.

The arm 42 comprises an arm 45 which projects through the aperture 0 in the side wall member (5 and is bent and riveted in position around an adjustable screw contact member all. The arm 15 further comprises a relatively long inwardly projecting lever arm as having a laterally bent end portion 4-9 adjacent to the pivot axis of the pin 27. A resilient metal strap element is connected, adjacent to one end, to the flange i!) as by a plate 52 and a screw 53 and, adjacent to its other end, to the bushing 28. At the latter end the element 50 is secured to the bushing 28 by a snug fit in a slot 5-l similar to the manner in which the arms 25 are sccured in the bushing.

In operation, the contact member all is placed in engagement with a vibrating part of which an indication is desired, under suflicient pressure to always remain in engagement with the part. Movement of the member 46 causes the arm 42 to laterally bend the leaf spring members 39 and to move about a vertical axis at the intersection of these springs. This movement is transmitted through the arm 48 to the flexihle element 50 which, being in an initial tangential position with the element 28, transmits its movement directly thereto about the axis of the pin 27.

This movement not only deflects the horizontal arms of the elements laterally to their planes but also torsionally twists the vertical armsthercofto permit a considerable movement of the pointer 29 without any severe bending at any local position. Thus a minute movement of the member 46 is materially magnified by the pointer 29 free from frictiona-lly engaging and roll- Eng surfaces and without back-lash or lost motion.

The flat-strap construction and relation of the elements 25, 39 and 50 reinforces the same against bending or displacement in the intended.

directions of the planes thereof andreadily permits the movement for which they are tion.

v stantially parallel to the pivotal axis, said I claim as my invention:

ing member, a pivotally-movable actuating member, a pivotally movable member for magnifying the movements or the actuating member and resilient flexible means connecting said movable members to each other and each thereof to said supporting member.

2. An indicator comprising a supporting member, a pivotallymovable member, and

a plurality of elongated laterally bendable elements having arms grouped about the p votal axis of said movable member in substantially parallel relation thereto and arms extending radially from said first arms to said supporting member, the movable member being mounted on said first arms.

An indicator comprising a supporting vmember, a pivotally movable member, and

a plurality of resilient fiat-strap members of substantially L-shape disposed in radial planes about the pivotal axis of said member with the movable member secured in sus' pended position adjacent to the ends of arms of said resilient members that extend substrap members being supported adjacent to the outer ends of arms thereof that extend radially from said first arms to said supporting member.

l. An indicator comprising a supporting member, a pivotally movable member, and yieldable means having a portion extending laterally to the pivotal axis of said movable indicating 7 member and securedto the supporting mem her and a portion extending substantially" parallel to said axis on which the movable member is mounted.

5. An indicator comprising a relativelyslightly pivotally movable actuating memher having a relatively long lever arm, a pivotally movable indicating member, and a resilient flexible element extending between fixed positions adjacent to the outer end of said lever arm and adjacent to the- V pivotalaxis of the indicating member. 1. An indicator comprising a support- 6; An indicator comprising a relatively slightly pivotally-movable actuating member havingia relatively long lever arm, an

indicating member pivotally movable about leafespring members extending between the supporting member and the pointer forsupporting the latter, an actuating member extending from a position adjacent to the pivotal axis of the pointer, through an aperture in the casing, to a position exterior to the casing, leaf-spring members extend-' ing between the supporting memberand the actuating member for supporting the latter,

and a flexibleelement fixedly connected adjacent to one end to said pointerandadjacent to its other end to said supporting member, p

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this all day of J une,

WILLIAM ETRUMPLER. 

